Government plans to merge local councils into larger unitary authorities have been met with resistance, with some leaders warning of a threat to democracy and local representation.
Bridget Smith, the Liberal Democrat head of South Cambridgeshire District Council, said she fears plans to merge councils could be the 'beginning of the end' of 'truly local government '. Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner said the new combined authorities would be better placed to tackle issues affecting wider areas. Smith said local people 'don't care' about the level of local government complexity, as long as services are being delivered.
She added that local politicians working hard for their community for relatively low pay should be 'celebrated'. The government said it would invite council leaders across the country to put forward proposals for new unitary authorities - expected to represent at least 500,000 people - to replace two-tier systems. East Cambridgeshire District Council leader Anna Bailey said the council could be 'lumped in' with a failing authority. Anna Bailey, East Cambridgeshire District Council's Conservative leader, said the thought of potentially being 'lumped in with a failing authority' is 'just horrifying'. Bailey said rural councils are 'completely different' to city councils and have a unique understanding of a locality. In Cambridgeshire, the county council covers everywhere except Peterborough, which is under the separate authority of Peterborough City Council. The five districts with lower-tier authorities include South Cambridgeshire, East Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Fenland and the city of Cambridge
LOCAL GOVERNMENT DEMOCRACY DEVOLUTION Restructuring POLITICAL FEARS
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